DNA and encoded protein which regulates cold and dehydration regulated genes

Abstract

A gene, designated as CBF1, encoding a protein, CBF1, which binds to a region regulating expression of genes which promote cold temperature and dehydration tolerance in plants is described. CBF1 is used to transform microorganisms and can be used to transform plants.

We claim: 
     
       1. DNA in isolated form encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to an AP2 domain of SEQ. ID. No. 2 that the protein binds to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCG. 
     
     
       2. DNA according to claim 1 wherein the amino acid sequence comprises the AP2 domain of SEQ. ID. No.2. 
     
     
       3. DNA according to claim 1 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCGAC. 
     
     
       4. DNA according to claim 1 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID. Nos. 3, 7, 8, and 9. 
     
     
       5. DNA according to claim 1 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region of Arabidopsis thaliana or a homologous regulatory region of another plant species. 
     
     
       6. DNA in isolated from comprising nucleotides 159 to 797 of SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
       7. DNA in isolated form comprising a sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino add sequence sufficiently homologous to SEQ. ID. No. 2 that the protein binds to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCG. 
     
     
       8. DNA according to claim 7 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCGAC. 
     
     
       9. DNA according to claim 7 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID. Nos. 3, 7, 8, and 9. 
     
     
       10. DNA according to claim 7 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region of Arabidopsis thaliana or a homologous regulatory region of another plant species. 
     
     
       11. DNA in isolated form encoding an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
       12. A plasmid encoding a protein comprising an amino add sequence sequence sufficiently homologous to an AP2 domain of SEQ. ID. No.2 that the protein binds to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCG. 
     
     
       13. A plasmid according to claim 12 wherein the amino acid sequence comprises the AP2 domain of SEQ. ID. No. 2. 
     
     
       14. A plasmid according to claim 12 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCGAC. 
     
     
       15. A plasmid according to claim 12 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID. Nos. 3, 7, 8, and 9. 
     
     
       16. A plasmid according to claim 12 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising of Arabidopsis thaliana or a homologous regulatory region of another plant species. 
     
     
       17. A plasmid comprising nucleotides 159 to 797 of SEQ ID No. 1. 
     
     
       18. A plasmid comprising a sequence encoding a protein comprising an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to SEQ. ID. No. 2 that the protein binds to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCG. 
     
     
       19. A plasmid according to claim 18 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCGAC. 
     
     
       20. A plasmid according to claim 18 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID. Nos. 3, 7, 8, and 9. 
     
     
       21. A plasmid according to claim 18 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region of Arabidopsis thaliana or an essentially homologous regulatory region of another plant species. 
     
     
       22. A plasmid encoding an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID No. 2. 
     
     
       23. A plasmid deposited as ATCC 98063. 
     
     
       24. A DNA construct capable of transforming a cell comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to an AP2 domain of SEQ. ID. No. 2 that the protein binds to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCG. 
     
     
       25. A DNA construct according to claim 24 wherein the amino acid sequence comprises the AP2 domain of SEQ. ID. No. 2. 
     
     
       26. A DNA construct according to claim 24 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCGAC. 
     
     
       27. A DNA construct according to claim 24 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID. Nos. 3, 7, 8, and 9. 
     
     
       28. A DNA construct according to claim 24 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region of Arabidopsis thaliana or an essentially homologous regulatory region of another plant species. 
     
     
       29. A DNA construct capable of transforming a cell comprising nucleotides 159 to 797 of SEQ ID No. 1. 
     
     
       30. A DNA construct capable of transforming a cell comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to SEQ. ID. No. 2 that the protien binds to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCG. 
     
     
       31. A DNA construct according to claim 30 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCGAC. 
     
     
       32. A DNA construct according to claim 30 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID. Nos. 3, 7, 8, and 9. 
     
     
       33. A DNA construct according to claim 30 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region of Arabidopsis thaliana or an essentially homologous regulatory region of another plant species. 
     
     
       34. A DNA construct encoding an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID No. 2. 
     
     
       35. A cell comprising a transformed sequence encoding an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to an AP2 domain of SEQ. ID. No. 2 that the protein binds to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCG. 
     
     
       36. A cell according to claim 35 wherein the amino acid sequence comprises the AP2 domain of SEQ. ID. No. 2. 
     
     
       37. A cell according to claim 35 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCGAC. 
     
     
       38. A cell according to claim 35 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID. Nos. 3, 7, 8, and 9. 
     
     
       39. A cell according to claim 35 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region of Arabidopsis thaliana or an essentially homologous regulatory region of another plant species. 
     
     
       40. A cell according to claim 35 wherein the cell is a microorganism. 
     
     
       41. A cell according to claim 35 wherein the microorganism is Escherichia coli. 
     
     
       42. A cell according to claim 35 wherein the microorganism is Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 
     
     
       43. A cell comprising a transformed sequence which comprises nucleotides 159 to 797 of SEQ ID. No. 1. 
     
     
       44. A cell comprising a transformed sequence encoding an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to SEQ. ID. No. 2 that the protein binds to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCG. 
     
     
       45. A cell according to claim 44 wherein the amino acid sequence comprises an AP2 domain of SEQ. ID. No. 2. 
     
     
       46. A cell according to claim 44 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence CCGAC. 
     
     
       47. A cell according to claim 44 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID. Nos. 3, 7, 8, and 9. 
     
     
       48. A cell according to claim 44 wherein the protein is capable of binding to a cold or dehydration transcription regulating region of Arabidopsis thaliana or a homologous regulatory region of another plant species. 
     
     
       49. A cell comprising a transformed sequence encoding an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID No. 2.